"Shisui, how have you been finding your time at the Shin'o Academy?"
In the study, Kenma, dressed in a casual yukata, sat cross-legged at a low desk, a small pair of scissors in his hand as he trimmed a bonsai tree before him.
Shisui sat formally on one side of the low table, a cup of tea in his hands.
Hearing Kenma's casual question, his expression immediately turned solemn, his demeanor extremely serious.
"In the academy, the teachers look after me well out of respect for you, my lord, and the Shihoin clan. They answer any questions I have, and the students are all very friendly."
"Relax. We're at home, no need to be so formal."
Kenma's eyes remained fixed on the small green plant in front of him. He waved a hand at Shisui, his other hand subconsciously tightening, the small scissors making a snipping sound.
"Yes, my lord."
Despite his words, Shisui maintained his meticulous, serious expression.
He had been living at the Shihoin estate for some time as Kenma's attendant.
It wasn't just him; Yashiro and the others who had come with him were also guests at the Shihoin estate.
Even though Shisui had entered the Shin'o Academy, he did not live in the school dormitories like his classmates from the Soul Society, but attended as a day student.
During the day, he attended classes at the academy, and at night, he studied and honed his skills with Yashiro and the others.
Sometimes, when the mood struck, Kenma would also guide them a little.
The teachers and students at the academy, seeing that Shisui was from the Shihoin clan, were naturally willing to build a good relationship with him.
"I heard you're quite famous at the academy, and that you and the boy Aizen brought are called the rising Twin Stars of the Soul Society, geniuses seen once in a hundred years."
Although Kenma's face was still stern and his voice was low, as he spoke, the emotion in his words couldn't help but rise.
Having followed Kenma for so long, Shisui could detect the faint change hidden in his almost unvarying tone.
It didn't sound like blame, but rather a hint of proud joy.
Shisui's heart immediately relaxed, and a humble look appeared on his face.
"You praise me too highly, my lord. I have some talent, but I would never dare to compare myself to you in your day. The 'once in a hundred years' is just an exaggeration by idle people."
Although he could see that Kenma was in a good mood, Shisui's hasty demeanor was unavoidable.
As far as he knew, the master before him, who held the life and death of the Uchiha clan in his hands, had graduated from the Shin'o Academy less than a hundred years ago.
If he was a "once in a hundred years" talent, where did that place his master?
Some of the teachers at the academy had been teaching there for hundreds of years. Shisui had, in private, intentionally or unintentionally tried to get information from those teachers.
He was mainly interested in the classes from Kenma's time as a student.
Kenma, and especially the Aizen whom Kenma was so wary of!
According to the information he had gathered, in those years, three great talents had appeared in succession over a ten-year period.
They were collectively known as the "Three Greats."
The teachers still spoke of them with great relish.
Two of them were the Lord Kenma before him and that Aizen Sousuke.
The third, whom Shisui had never met, was said to also be a son-in-law, having married into the Kuchiki clan, another of the Four Great Noble Clans.
To this day, some people still discussed in private that since two of the Three Greats had already married into great noble families, when would the remaining Aizen marry, and which family would it be?
Shisui told Kenma the gossip he had heard from his classmates, and Kenma's expression immediately stiffened.
"Is this what your class discusses at the academy these days?"
"Forgive me, my lord. I tried to stop it, but the students still discuss it quietly in private," Shisui said quickly.
"How could I blame you? The mouths are on their bodies. What they want to say is their freedom. It's not worth getting worked up over."
He couldn't just send the Punishment Force to arrest these students because of some idle gossip.
Kenma didn't consider himself particularly broad-minded, but he wouldn't punish someone for what they said, let alone make things difficult for these students over some idle chatter.
"But speaking of which, I really can't imagine the scene of that fellow Aizen getting married, let alone to a noble he particularly looks down on... Heh, I wonder what his reaction will be when he hears about this."
Seeing that Kenma wasn't truly angry, Shisui finally relaxed.
"Aizen should be aware of such talk. I've heard from my classmates that in the calligraphy class, Aizen publicly stated that he has no intention of marrying for the time being."
Shisui paused, then speculated:
"Ichimaru Gin probably told him."
Calligraphy was an elective course at the Shin'o Academy, not a required course like Zanjutsu or Kidō.
There were also flower arranging, Go, painting, and so on, which students could choose to enroll in based on their interests.
And the instructor for the calligraphy class was none other than Aizen Sousuke.
Shisui, knowing the truth about Aizen, had kept his distance.
"Ichimaru Gin, huh..."
A hint of seriousness appeared on Kenma's brow. His gaze shifted from the bonsai to Shisui.
"You are classmates. After spending these days together, what do you think of him?"
"He is without a doubt a genius, a true genius!"
As the person Aizen had brought, and one who also bore the title of genius, how could Shisui not pay attention to Ichimaru Gin?
"Although the students and teachers like to group us together, I know that I am not a genius like him."
"Relying on my prior experience as a ninja, I can learn some of the knowledge and skills taught by the teachers very quickly and easily."
"But Ichimaru Gin is different. I can tell that he has never had any systematic training before; he is a complete blank slate. Yet, the speed at which he learns these things is not much slower than mine, and in some areas, he is even faster."
Kenma was not at all surprised by Shisui's answer.
After all, he was the genius who graduated in one year in the original story and later outsmarted Aizen. It was only natural that he would have such talent.
On the contrary, it was truly remarkable that Shisui could even compete with Ichimaru Gin.
"Heh, the more talented Ichimaru Gin is, the bigger the headache for Aizen in the future."
He didn't know what kind of predilection Aizen had to keep such a troublesome person by his side for over a hundred years.
He even took Ichimaru Gin's killing intent as a source of amusement.
Kenma really couldn't understand Aizen's thought process.
"My lord, there is one more thing."
"Hmm?"
Shisui said, "I heard that Ichimaru Gin has already completed this year's coursework and wants to skip to a higher grade."
Kenma was naturally aware of this. He looked at Shisui, and understanding dawned on him.
"You want to skip a grade too?"
"I will follow my lord's arrangements."
Shisui knelt, his head touching the tatami mat.
To be frank, he had also completed the current grade's coursework and had even begun to study more advanced knowledge.
He didn't need to build connections in the academy; continuing would just be a waste of time.
On the other hand, there were the expectations of his clansmen.
As the only "university student" from their village, news about Shisui was followed closely by the Uchiha clan, and his reputation as a genius was widely known.
At the mention of Shisui's name, even a three-year-old child would puff out their chest.
The clan head had written to him, subtly reminding him not to tarnish the reputation of the Uchiha clan.
Yashiro and the others around him had also, both overtly and covertly, advised him not to be outdone by others.
Shisui couldn't decide on his own and could only come to request Kenma's command.
"This matter..."
Kenma thought for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, a dashing and bold female voice suddenly came from outside.
"Kenma, Kenma, I need to talk to you about something!"
The voice was unceremonious and tinged with annoyance.
Kenma's brow furrowed slightly.
It was Yoruichi.
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